Process for preparing metal fluoride single crystals



United States Patent O 3,477,812 PROCESS FOR PREPARING METAL FLUORIDE SINGLE CRYSTALS James 0. Hum] and Gilbert S. Layne, Midland, Mich., as-

signors to The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, Mich., a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Continuation-impart of application Ser. No. 507,974, Nov. 15, 1965. This application Apr. 27, 1967, Ser. No. 634,112

Int. Cl. Ctllf 7/50 US. C]. 23-88 2 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A process for producing aluminum nitride and metal fluoride single crystals either separately or simultaneously. The process comprises contacting a subvalent aluminum compound, i.e., where Al exhibits a valence ofless than 3, in a gaseous state with a nitriding agent in a gaseous state While providing an inert surface on which the crystals can form. To prepare metal fluoride crystals, a subvalent aluminum fluoride compound in a gaseous state is contacted with a metal in a gaseous state under an inert atmosphere and providing an inert surface on which the metal fluoride crystals can form. To form the two crystals simultaneously the latter procedure is modified by carrying out the reaction in a nitriding atmosphere.

Cross references to related application This application is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No. 507,974, filed Nov. 15, 1965, now US. Patent No. 3,397,056, issued Aug. 13, 1968.

Background of the invention Single crystals are receiving considerable attention as strengthening components of structural compositions. They are usually bound together with a continuous media, termed a matrix. The elasticity of the matrix is usually greater than the crystal, thus the load is transmitted from crystal to crystal by the matrix. Examples of composite constructions are filament wound pressure containers, glass reinforced plastics, etc. If the length to diameter ratio of a crystal is greater than about 100, it acts as a continuous filament. The present invention concerns a novel method of making aluminum nitride and metal fluoride single crystals which can be employed as strengthening agents.

Summary of the invention The present invention relates to a process for preparing single crystal compounds and more particularly to a process for preparing aluminum nitride and metal fluoride single crystals.

In the practice of the present invention the reactants are chosen such that a desired single crystal or a combination of different crystals can be prepared. Generally, when aluminum nitride crystals are to be prepared, a subvalent aluminum compound (i.e., aluminum having a valence of less than +3) is contacted while in a gaseous state with a gaseous nitriding compound to provide a gaseous reaction mass, while providing an inert surface in contact with said reaction mass upon which aluminum nitride single crystals are formed. Metal fluoride single crystals are formed by contacting a metal in a gaseous state with gaseous subvalent aluminum fluoride in an inert atmosphere to provide a gaseous reaction mass in the presence of an inert surface upon which metal fluoride single crystals are formed. Single crystals of aluminum nitride and metal fluoride can be simultaneously prepared by contacting aluminum fluoride in a gaseous state with a 3,477,812 Patented Nov. 11, 1969 "ice As designated herein a subvalent aluminum compound means an aluminum compound wherein the aluminum metal cation has a valence of less than +3.

A metal as used herein refers to the metallic form of a metal selected from the Group I and Group II elements of the periodic table.

Preferred embodiments In practice substantially pure aluminum nitride single crystals are prepared by contacting a gaseous subvalent aluminum compound with a gaseous nitriding compound while providing an inert surface upon which aluminum nitride crystals are condensed.

The temperature at which the process is. run will depend on the particular aluminum compounds and nitriding compounds employed in the reaction. The temperature, however, should generally be maintained near to the lower temperature stability range of the subvalent aluminum compound employed and still suflicient to maintain the aluminum compound in a gaseous state. For example, when the initial reaction consist of AlCl and N a temperature of greater than 1,000 C. is appropriate. It is generally preferred to employ a reaction having a heat gradient along its length. The subvalent aluminum compound and nitriding agent are contacted in the zone of highest temperature and aluminum nitride crystals are formed on the cooler inert surfaces of the reactor.

The reaction time is not critical and depends primarily upon the time required to insure a substantially complete admixture of the gaseous reactants. The system is usually maintained at about atmospheric pressure; however, reduced pressures may be utilized in order to maintain the reactants in a gaseous state during the initial admixture. Usually a reaction temperature is chosen such that the process may be run at near atmospheric pressures.

Subvalent aluminum compounds which may be utilized herein are generally those which may be readily provided in a gaseous form at readily obtainable temperature ranges. Suitable subvalent aluminum compounds include, for example, AlBr, AlClF, AlCl AlF AlOH, A11, A1 8, A10, A18, A1 0 and mixtures thereof. AlCl, AlF and mixtures thereof are usually preferred in the operation of the present novel process because of the easily formed gaseous trivalent aluminum compound which is formed and which can be readily separated from the reaction zone.

Any nitrogen containing compounds capable of providing nitrogen atoms or molecules under the conditions of the novel process may be utilized as a nitriding agent. The nitriding compounds preferably should be reducing in character rather than oxidizing. Nitriding compounds which can be employed in the present novel method include, for example, N hydrazine, cracked NH and mixtures thereof; admixtures of nitriding compounds with non-reactive gases such as argon or hydrogen may be employed.

The relative concentration of the reactants is not critical, however, it is preferable to operate with an excess of nitriding compound over than stoichiometrically required to convert substantially all the subvalent aluminum compound to the aluminum nitride single crystals. It has been found that for especially fast reactions the gaseous reactants may be diluted with an inert gas such as, for example, argon or a normal valent aluminum halide compound, such as, for example AlCl Metal fluoride single crystals, including aluminum fluoride, can be produced in a manner similar to that indicated hereinbefore for the preparation of aluminum nitride single crystals. Gaseous aluminum fluoride, in a subvalent state, is contacted with a gaseous metal, having a zero valence state, under an inert atmosphere while providing an inert surface in contact with the reaction mass and upon which the metal fluoride single crystals are condensed.

The system is usually maintained at about atmospheric pressure during the complete reaction time but lower than atmospheric pressure can be employed in order to assure that the reactants are initially completely in a gaseous state. As indicated hereinbefore in the process for preparing aluminum nitride crystals, an initial reaction temperature is usually selected so that the process may be run at or near atmospheric pressures.

Metals other than aluminum which may be utilized to form the corresponding metal fluoride crystals can be selected from the Group I and Group II metals of the periodic table, and mixtures thereof. As indicated hereinbefore, the metallic form of the metal is required in the operation of the present invention and magnesium is preferred in the actual operation of the present invention.

The relative concentrations of the initial reactants is not critical, and is dependent merely upon the amount of crystals to be formed. Stoichiometric amounts are usually employed in the actual practice of the present novel process.

The process involving the preparation of metal fluoride crystals should be run under an atmosphere which is inert to the reactants and metallic fluoride crystals formed. At atmosphere of argon or hydrogen is usually employed in the practice of the present invention. In addition, the collection surface must be maintained at a temperature below the melting point or sublimation point of the metal fluoride. Again a reactor having a heat gradient along its length is usually employed.

The individual processes as described hereinbefore can be modified so that separable and distinct aluminum nitride and metal fluoride crystals may be prepared simultaneously. The process steps are essentially the same as indicated herein for the preparation of metal fluoride crystals. In addition, a nitriding atmosphere is substituted for the inert atmosphere and when the process is carried out under the indicated temperatures and other reaction conditions, distinct and separable aluminum nitride and metal fluoride single crystals are formed.

Any material which is substantially inert to the reactants and reaction products may be employed to provide a surface upon which the crystals may be formed. Examples of suitable inert materials include titanium, diboride, graphite, refractory metal oxides and carbides and other like materials.

The single crystals formed by the method as defined herein generally range in diameter from about 1 to 15 microns, and generally have a length to diameter ratio of from about 500 to 2500. The metal fluoride crystals such as, for example, MgF crystals, are usually larger than the aluminum nitride crystals. Measurements of the tensile strength of the aluminum nitride crystals generally ranges from about 0.5 to about 4 10 p.s.i. While the metal fluoride crystals generally have a tensile strength of about 0.5 X10 p.s.i. It is usually preferred to produce crystals having a length to width ratio of greater than since such crystals find particular utility as strengthening components.

The following examples will facilitate a more complete understanding of the present invention and are included herein for illustrative purposes only and are not meant to limit the present invention thereto.

EXAMPLE 1 Aluminum nitride single crystals were prepared in the following manner. A subvalent gaseous aluminum sulfur compound was prepared by heating 8.3 grams of A1 8 and 8 grams of aluminum metal in a titanium diboride crucible at from about 1750 C. to 1900 C. for 1.5 hours to produce gaseous A1 8. The crucible was contained in a graphite muffle enclosed in and insulated from an A1 0 refractory sleeve. The muffie was induction heated. Nitrogen was contacted with the gaseous A1 8 compound. Needle like crystals were produced on the surface of the titanium diboride crucible. By X-ray diffraction techniques these needle-like crystals were identified as substantially pure AlN and were found to be in single crystal form.

EXAMPLE 2 A1 0 was substituted for the A1 5 in Example 1 and processed under essentially identical operating conditions. AlN crystals were again produced.

EXAMPLE 3 AlN crystals were prepared by heating 47.6' grams of Al C 73.3 grams CaCl and 4 grams of carbon in a graphite crucible to about 1700 C. and maintained at this temperature for approximately 1 hour. Nitrogen was introduced as the nitriding agent. The apparent reaction scheme by which the crystals are produced by this reaction mixture is:

MgF and AlN single crystals were prepared simultaneously in the following manner. grams of aluminum metal and 172.7 grams of MgF were heated in a graphite cylinder which was insulated from a Pyrex sleeve. A mixture of argon and nitrogen was used as an atmosphere. The reaction mixture was heated at ap proximately 1450 C. for about four hours and then cooled. Needle shaped crystal were formed on the walls of the graphite cylinder. X-ray diffraction analysis disclosed that substantially pure AlN single crystals and separate and distinct substantially pure MgF single crystals were formed. The crystals were examined microscopically and substantially all had length to width ratios greater than 500 and most of them had ratios of greater than 2500. The AlN crystals ranged from about 1 to 5 microns in diameter and had a tensile strength of from about 0.5 to about 4 10 p.s.i. The MgF crystals were slightly larger in diameter. The process can be described by the following reactions:

a w ana MgF: 2A1N (both single crystal crystals) Various modifications may be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, for it is understood that we limit ourselves only as defined in the appended claims.

We claim:

1. A process for preparing metal fluoride single crystals which comprises:

(a) contacting a gaseous subvalent aluminum fluoride compound with a gaseous metal selected from the group consisting of Group II metals of the periodic table and mixtures thereof in an atmosphere which is substantially inert to the reactants and reaction products to provide a gaseous reaction mass;

(b) providing a substantially inert surface in contact 5 with said gaseous reaction mass, said surface being maintained at a temperature below whichever is the lowest of the melting point and sublimation point of the metal fluoride single crystals;

(c) condensing said gaseous reaction mass in the presence of said inert surface to form metal fluoride single crystals on said surface and aluminum, and

(d) separating said single crystals and aluminum.

2. The process as defined in claim 1 wherein said subvalent aluminum fluoride compound is selected from the 15 group consisting of AIF, MP and mixtures thereof.

AEC-tr-3927 (pt. 2), The Chemistry of Fluorine and Its Inorganic Compounds by I. G. Ryss, page 580. February 1960 (Issuance Date). United States Atomic Energy Commission.

EDWARD STERN, Primary Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 

